Ultimate Nullifier
The Ultimate Nullifier is a fictional item of immense power in the Marvel Universe. The device made its first appearance in Fantastic Four volume 1, issue #50 (May 1966), in which Johnny Storm retrieves it from the home of Galactus -- as directed by Uatu the Watcher -- for the Fantastic Four to employ against the threat of Galactus himself. The Nullifier appears as a small, hand-held metallic device with no apparent functionality. It is the only known weapon in the universe capable of inspiring fear in Galactus.[1]
Bio
In its first appearance, Reed Richards threatens the use of the Ultimate Nullifier as a last ditch effort to stop Galactus from destroying Earth. Faced with the prospect of dying by Richards' activation of the Nullifier, Galactus withdraws.
The Nullifier later appears in the Infinity War. Quasar tries to use it in an attempt to destroy the Magus, who had acquired the collective power of five cosmic cubes and a gauntlet containing 5 of the 6 Infinity Gems. The Ultimate Nullifier's power gets redirected by the incomplete Infinity Gauntlet wielded by the Magus, seemingly nullifying Quasar.[2]
Powers and abilities
The Ultimate Nullifier has been described as "the universe's most devastating weapon."[2]. As such, the Ultimate Nullifier has the ability to completely and utterly eliminate any target the wielder chooses (through violation of the law of conservation of mass), and—if the wielder's mind isn't powerful enough—the wielder himself. In the hands of a being with an extremely powerful intellect, such as Galactus, the Ultimate Nullifier can destroy entire time-lines from beginning to end and instantly nullify (and, paradoxically, recreate) a multiverse.[3] While its origins are ancient and were previously unknown, it has been revealed that the Ultimate Nullifier is actually an aspect of Galactus.[4]
The Ultimate Nullifier is generally kept within Galactus' Worldship, Taa II, though at times Galactus has been known to carry it aboard his spherical starship. In the rare instances that the Nullifier gets stolen or kept in other locales, such as the Fantastic Four's headquarters, the Nullifier inevitably returns to Galactus' possession, usually with no explanation. The reason behind this inconsistency may have been revealed in the Abraxas saga. In it, Galactus demonstrates his ability to effortlessly recall the Nullifier to himself at will[5], even from the grasp of Abraxas himself, the universal embodiment of destruction.
Alternate versions
JLA/Avengers
During the JLA/Avengers crossover (published between Sep 2003 - Mar 2004), the JLA and the Avengers go after twelve items of power, six from each universe. Grandmaster approaches the League and tells them the Ultimate Nullifier is one of the great six items of power of the Marvel Universe, along with the Infinity Gems, the Casket of Ancient Winters, the Wand of Watoomb, the Evil Eye of Avalon and the Cosmic Cube. The first item the League collects is the Ultimate Nullifier. The Martian Manhunter examines it, but it threatens to overwhelm his mind, and he starts to lose control of his shape due to the immense power felt probing the Nullifier, stating the item alone could destroy an entire universe.
Earth X
In the Earth X trilogy, Universe X in particular, the Ultimate Nullifier is one of the cosmic objects Captain Marvel, ressurected as a child, gathers to create Paradise. Later, it is used against Death after Marvel's spiritual counterpart, Mar-Vell, reveals to Thanos how Death has manipulated him in the past and gives the Ultimate Nullifier to him. Thanos annhiliates Death and removes her from power, paving the way for the new paradise. However, as an unforeseen consequence, it leaves those still living unable to die, forcing the remaining heroes on Earth to resurrect Jude The Entropic Man as a means for dying.
Other media
Television
In the 1994 Fantastic Four TV series episode "Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus", Uatu the Watcher takes the Human Torch to Galactus' world to obtain the Ultimate Nullifier in order to stop Galactus. This version of the Nullifier differs greatly in shape from the original, looking more like a fictional two-handed gun.
Video games
In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Crystal mentions to the heroes that Medusa left for Earth to search for the Ultimate Nullifier to be used against Doctor Doom. It is mentioned that the Ultimate Nullifier was in the possession of the Fantastic Four, then S.H.I.E.L.D., then with Dr. Moira MacTaggert on Muir Island. Medusa ends up running into Doctor Doom and becomes corrupted, knowing someone would use the Ultimate Nullifier against him. One of the side missions involves finding the damaged Ultimate Nullifier in a laboratory at Castle Doom (it can also help in defeating Doctor Doom by using it alongside the M'Kraan Crystal and the Muonic Inducer). If the player successfully finds the damaged Ultimate Nullifier, Mister Fantastic will repair it and use it one day to prevent Mephisto from invading Earth before all is lost. If the damaged Ultimate Nullifier isn't found, Mephisto is still repelled, but only after heavy casualties.